30-minute notice: Elected officials only received an oral presentation of this amendment at 6:30 p.m. — just 30 minutes before the session.
The vote: Councilor Patrick Léonard proposed the amendment, which led to a 4-4 tie. The Mayor then voted to break the deadlock and approve the project.
The shadow of a doubt: After the vote, citizens questioned the origin of this lightning amendment. While the Ville claims its lawyers typically handle such matters, we need to know which expert was actually available at 6:30 p.m. to draft such a complex text—and specifically, whether the developer participated directly or indirectly in its drafting.
The context: An oral presentation of technical amendments deprives elected officials of any opportunity for research or analysis before having to make a decision.
U-turn in the Village: In February, the Mayor stated that the developer should meet with Patrice Vachon, president of the Association des résidents du Lac Mercier (ALM). Despite the total absence of contact with Mr. Vachon, the project was approved on May 11, ignoring the official call for a moratorium issued by the ALM on May 9.
Our viewpoint: Les Amis denounce this lack of transparency. A project of this scale should not be decided by “surprise” amendments, without time for reflection by the public or the council.
Political about-face: In February, the Mayor opposed the project to address PIIA deficiencies flagged by the CCU and local citizens. Yet, on May 11, the Mayor and four Councillors chose to ignore the CCU’s unfavorable recommendations to force the project’s approval. Les Amis denounce this lack of consistency in the face of persistent citizen concerns.
About Les Amis de Mont-Tremblant
Our mandate is to ensure the harmonious real estate development of the region while maintaining transparency and community acceptability.